W124 Engine won't start
 

Hi,

My 1995 E320 was running perfectly but today when I tried to start the engine in the morning It just didn't start. I was like when you have a dead battery. Not a sigle noise. I tried to jump start it with my other car but nothing happend. Dead. Totally quiet. BUT, about 10 minutes later my wife got into the car turn the ignition sw on and.... the car started on her first try and ran pefectly !!!

Wow ! I didn't know my wife was a MB expert !:D

I think the problem is in my igition sw contacts. What do you think?

If your car starts when the gearshift is in neutral, but won't start in park, then the problem could be the neutral safety switch. Do a search for neutral safety switch; you will find much information.
regards,
Mark

Hi,

What I did when the car didn't star was to spray inside the ignition switch with one of those Electronic Contact Cleaner can. The car is now starting normally in P or N and without any trouble. Starts always at the first try. I only got the symtom once but now it apprears to be good again.

I still think it must be some electrical contacts problem inside the switch (I got the same problem once in a VW Jetta) but I'm not sure and since my wife uses this car a lot, I'm getting worried because it could happend again anytime.

Do you think it makes any difference using a contact cleaner inside the ignition sw? Is it easy disassemble the ignition switch to take take a look at the electrical contacts? What else shoud I check?

Thanks !!

As Mark said, next time move the shifter to N from P.
If it does not start, then hold the key in the start position as you move the shifter [ wiggle] in N.
That will tell you if it is NSS switch or Shifter bushing wear...BOTH vey common on that chassis and both same diagnosis. If the shifter bushing wears , the shifter can not go all the way into P position b/c the shifter gate stops the shifter foward movement, whereas in N you have the wiggle room on both sides of N...

Thanks guys !

I'll keep that trick in mind for the next time I get the starting isue or when my wife calls me complaining about "that" car.

Thanks.